A Monmouth Army Officer has been honing her skiing skills in the breathtaking scenery of the snow capped French Alps.

Second Lieutenant Alexandra Lodge, 23, of The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers has just competed in the Nordic (cross-country) skiing section of the Army skiing contest Exercise Pipedown.

Nordic skiing, often coupled with shooting as a Biathlon event is one of the most popular disciplines for military people, and is widely regarded as one of the most arduous and physically demanding sports.

The Nordic event at Pipedown featured a 20km patrol race training soldiers in essential military skills so they are able operate and survive in freezing arctic conditions.

Exercise Pipedown is the ski championships for British soldiers based in Germany, but also open to some soldiers in the UK, and is held in the French ski resort of Les Contamines de Montjoie near Mont Blanc.

Alex, as she is known to her friends, started skiing when she was seven and started Nordic skiing shortly after joining the Army. When she found out that she was going to take part in Exercise Pipedown she couldn't wait to compete under international rules.

Alex, whose parents Paul and Tania live in Athens in Greece said: "I love Alpine skiing, it's my passion, but I thought it would be interesting to try another type of skiing. This sport is great for my fitness and endurance levels – it's one of the toughest sports there is and is an excellent calorie burner- for burning off all that Christmas turkey."

Former Haberdashers Monmouth School student, Alex who has served in Sweden, Norway, France, Germany and the Falkland Islands since she joined the Army in 2004, added: "its great being part of a team and competing at events such as the biathlon which include air rifle shooting. It's amazing here in the mountains, after a race you get a real sense of achievement, so far my team has come second in most events which means that we should qualify for the overall Army Ski Championships late in the year."

This is the 15th year that Germany based 1 (UK) Armoured Division has held its Championships at Les Contamines and this year has one of the largest ever number of competitors taking part with 324 soldiers providing 61 teams.

During the Championships soldiers' physical and mental strength will be tested to the limit in a variety of individual and team events including a 10km Biathlon sprint, a 4 X 10km relay, slaloms, a 1km floodlit challenge, patrol race and downhill skiing.

Exercise Pipedown provides an important opportunity to hone important adventurous training skills enhancing an individual's ability to withstand the rigors of operations and rapid deployments. It also offers the opportunity for novices and experts alike to ski under international competition rules.

Major General Graham Binns, General Officer Commanding 1(UK) Armoured Division, said:

"Anyone who doubts that these skiing Championships are not adventurous should stand in the starting gate of the downhill race, having been on skis for less than a month and wait for the adrenalin to rush. As Alex Ferguson said 'this is training; it develops leadership, self confidence and physical fitness, and it's fun'."